Japan Week in Venice: Art, Film, and Cultural Exchange at San Servolo

Venice is hosting a Japan Week during the Biennale Arte and Venice Film Festival, featuring film screenings, art installations, and cultural events. The Japan Week includes film screenings such as Hirokazu Koreeda's 'The Truth' starring Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, and Ethan Hawke, along with other films by Masayuki Suo, Takahisa Zeze, Mika Ninagawa, Tomohiko Ito, and Joe Odarigi. On September 5, meetings on education and economic cooperation take place at Ca' Vendramin Calergi and Ca' Foscari University, organized by the Fondazione Italia Giappone, chaired by Ambassador Umberto Vattani. On the same day, Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi celebrate architect Tadao Ando with a free guided tour of the Pinault collection spaces he restored, followed by a talk at the Teatrino. On September 6, artist Uemon Ikeda presents a site-specific installation at the Venice International University on San Servolo Island, weaving red threads in the former monastery's outdoor spaces, exploring lightness and ephemerality, addressing Venice's environmental fragility. The installation, curated by Olimpia de Sanctis, is promoted by the Japan Foundation with support from EFG Art Ltd. London, and runs until September 13. On September 8, La Fenice stages a production of 'Madame Butterfly' with sets and costumes by Mariko Mori, part of the Biennale Arte's special projects, blending Zen philosophy, Japanese tradition, and technological dystopia.